The Museum of Fine Arts Boston brought a new touch of modernism in Frank Bowling’s “Americas” which opened on Oct. 22, and “Body Awareness: Maria Lassnig’s Experimental Films” that debuted on Oct. 15.
On the first floor of the museum is the art from Sir Frank Bowling (1934), who is an abstract expressionist painter from Bartica, Guyana. His work is displayed in reverse chronological order where his later works are at the entrance of the museum.
He is most notably known for his collection “Map Paintings” which depicts nearly-hidden outlines of continents that are disguised by bright paints coating the entire canvas. This art style from Bowling began after he moved to New York City from London. These paintings are quite large and fill multiple rooms in the museum, making the once-blank walls full of neon canvases that are simplistic yet beautiful.
This artwork is shocking to the naked eye not only due to the colors, but also the size. Viewers are engulfed by the great magnitude of each piece, making the entire exhibit that much stronger and leaving each person wishing to take their time to be able to fully absorb every splash of paint on the canvas.
As you walk further into the exhibit, the works age with paintings from 1966 highlighting his transformative years of moving from impressionism to abstract. This exhibit is also used to educate art students and even has a video of an interview from Bowling talking about how the exhibit is displayed in Boston.
The additional new display in the museum is from the Austrian artist Maria Lassnig (1919-2014) which displays her artistic venture into experimental film-making. Lassnig was most well known for her paintings through her career and this museum hall highlights her lesser known yet beautiful works.
With the exhibit only being in a small and narrow hall on the second floor, and closed off to passers by, there are three films playing in the exhibit at all times that highlight the different styles that Lassnig explored. Not only are the films showcased, but so are the initial paintings and drawings that inspired the film-making.
The videos move from the stop-motion filming of drawing, to an artistic exposé of three sisters in a family and lastly the recording and reality of the streets of New York City where she documented the happenings of a busy street in New York. The exhibit is small but still quite beautiful, showcasing the art in such an understated manner making the films the brightest and most eye-catching in the room.
Both of these exhibits add to the modern aspects of the museum. These artists are contemporary legends in the artistic world and are being highlighted in the museum to give these astonishing creators time in the spotlight for some of their different collections. They leave viewers taking in the art while leaving a lasting impression.
Each of these exhibits will be on display until the early months of 2023; Bowling being open until April 9 and Lassnig until April 2.
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